Alarm device



T. W. MOODY ALARM DEVICE Aug. 18, 1936.

Filed June 4, 1934 Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED (STATES PATENT omerALARM DEVICE lThomas W. Moody, Houston, Tex. Application June 4, 1934,Serial No. 728,942` 4 Claims. (Cl. 116-87) This invention relates to analarm device.

An object of the invention isto provide a device of the characterdescribed specially adapted to be installed at or adjacent a wallopening such as a window opening, and equipped with a. blank cartridgeand means for exploding the charge in case of an unauthorizedinterference with the closure of the opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide an alarm device adapted tobeattached toa window casing adjacent the screen of the window andhaving means operative to explode upon the opening or partial opening ofthe screen.

The device is primarily intended to give a warning in case of anattempted burglary through a window or other opening of a building.

A further object of the invention is to provide an alarm device which isof very compact structure which may be readily installed, and removed,and which is inconspicuous in appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide an alarm device that maybe readily locked in inactive position.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particularrelation to certain novel features of construction, operation andarrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specificationand illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a horizontal sectional view, taken through a windowopening and showing the alarm device installed.

Figure 2 shows a side elevation of the device.

Figure 3 shows a side elevation partly in vertical section.

Figure 4 shows a vertical sectional view of the device in its relationto the window screen and shown in active position.

Figure 5 shows a side view of the device partly in vertical section infiring position.

Figure 6 shows a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 ofFigure 2, and

Figure 7 shows a front elevation of a window frame and screen showingthe alarm device assembled therewith in dotted lines.

In the drawing, the numerals I, I designate the side members of awindo-w frame showing the upper sash 2 vertically slidable in saidframe.

The numeral 3 designates the window screen as a whole which is securedin the usual manner to the outer side of the window frame so as toprotect the window. The screen will usually bevswung from the top, as isthe common practice, so that its lower end may be swung outwardly.

Secured to one vside of the window casing and i spaced between the uppersash and the screen frame there is a metal ,housing 4, preferably squarein horizontal cross section. This housing may be secured in placebyscrews as 5, 6, the Y latter of which is inaccessible when the ringmechanism hereinafter described is installed therein. Opposite thescrew. 6 the housing 4 has an opening 1 for accessto the screw by ascrewdriver for installing said housing.

The housing l has a transverse web 8 having V an upturned annular flange9 forming a bearing for the'blank cartridge I0. The rim II of thecartridge has a greater diameter than that of the bearing so that thesaid rim will engage the flange 9. Beneath the web 8, the side of thehousing 4 adjacent the window screen is openV and secured to the screenframe and projecting through said open side into the housing there is aretainer I2 which is secured to the screen frame by means of a screw I3.When the alarm device is in active position the lower end of thecartridge I engages the retainer I2 to hold the cartridge rim elevatedabove the flange 9.

Within the housing 4 there is a cylinder I4- whoseouter end is closed.Within this cylinder there is a plunger I5 whose lower end terminates ina ring pin Iii aligned with the cap of the cartridge. A coil spring I'Iis interposed between the closed end of the cylinder and the plunger I5and the upper end of said plunger has a reduced stem I8, which issurrounded by the spring I1.

One side of the housing 4 above the web 8 has a side opening I9 throughwhich the cartridge I0 may be inserted into said bearing beforer thecylinder I4 is inserted into the housing. Said cylinder with the plungerand spring assembled therein may then be inserted downwardly into thehousing until the ring pin I6 engages the cap of the cartridge. Saidcartridge will be supported on the retainer I2 and as the cylinder isforced downwardly into place, the spring I1 will be placed undercompression. The cylinder has a lateral projection 20 and as thecylinder is forced into position it should be turned so that thisprojection will pass down the corner 4' of the housing ll until theprojection clears the upper end of the opening I9 and should then beturned by the handle 2I until the projection 20 engages underneath theinside diagonal stop 22 across another corner of the housing 4 and thiswill maintain the compression on the spring II.

In case of an attempted burglary, should the burglar attempt to open thescreen by pulling the lower end 'thereof outwardly, the side ofthescreen frame carrying the retainer I2 will moveV outwardly from'thewindow casing the other side of the screen frame being retained by thestop v23 which is'secured to the adjacent side of the window casing.VVWhen the screen is pulled outwardly as shown in Figure 5 andV theretainerV I2 releases the lower end of the cartridge I0, said cartridgewill be suddenly projected downwardlyv by thefspring I1 until its rim IIhangs on the flangeY 9 whereby the cartridgewill be'suddenly stoppedVand impact of the firing pin against the cartridge cap will .ignite theexplosive charge whereby an alarm will be given.

If Vit be desired to render the alarm device inactive, the cylinder I4may be turned'by theV I Y handle 2| a quarter of a turn, the projectionl20 passing around through theV upper portion' of the 'Y YopeningV I9until said projection clears said-openping and. moves into the adjacentcorner of the housingand said cylinder will then be moved outwardly bythe springV I1 relieving the'rcompres- V sion on said spring.

,V25 Vnow consideredV to be a preferred form of the Vin- .placeableretainer associated'therewith, Ya car- The drawingand descriptiondisclose what is vention by way of illustration only, while the broadprinciple of the invention will be deiined by the' appended claims. g v

WhatV I claim is: K Y l. Analarm device comprising a housing, a dis- Mft'ri'dge supportedon the retainer, a stop for the cartridge, meansincluding a ring pin acting yieldinglyiV against the cartridge andVeffective to project the cartridge against the stop and to fire thecartridge upon displacement of the retainer. Y

against the cap of the cartridge, and a Vyieldable f member actingagainst the plunger. f Y

3. The combination with aclosure for a wall opening, of an alarm deviceYcontaining an explo- Ysive cartridge and a firing mechanism therefor,

means on the closure. normally supporting the cartridge to hold thecartridge and Vfiring mechanism in retracted position, said `means beingmovable, upon movement of the closure toward open position, to'releasethecartridge and to permit it to move to ring position, and means forVarresting such cartridge movement. g

4. An alarm device comprisingV a housing, a

bearing therein, a cartridge in the bearing, aY

jstop to limit the movement of the cartridge in thel bearing, a plungervhaving a firing Vpinl aligned with the capY ofthe cartridge, ayieldable member Vnormaly acting against the plunger, means movable intoone position to maintain thelcartridge in one position and to vmaintainVsaidY yierldableV Y member inactive and movable into another position torelease the cartridge to render the yieldable member active to allow themovementlof the cartridge into ring vpositionv against the stop.

THOMAS W. MOODY.

